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Brooklyn Sloane

June 2025

Tuesday — 7:09 pm

T he sun remained stubbornly high in the sky, defying the late hour. It was strange to witness such an odd occurrence when the cityscape of Washington, D.C. would be experiencing sunset in less than two hours. The continuous daylight of the Alaskan summer was due to the region’s high latitude, and this phenomenon gave a surreal sense of time being suspended.It was natural for one’s internal clock to struggle against the prolonged daylight hours.

Brook and Theo walked past the hotel’s front entrance toward a spacious room designated for the complimentary breakfast served every morning from six to nine. A long counter stretched along one side of the disorganized space. At the far end was a small beverage area for guests, a pledge of the hotel’s hospitality. At some point during the day, a staff member had made an effort to restore order to the area, as all the chairs had been neatly tucked into their designated spots at various tables.

Brook’s stomach churned at the lingering smell of grease. It had been over ten hours since the courtesy breakfast had been served, so how was it possible such an odor had hung around for so long?

She had given Graham her word before he left for the airstrip that she would take time to eat something later, but she wasn’t confident that she could follow through with her promise. That one minute she had stolen from the day had drained every shred of energy in her body.

“Brook, I would like to formally introduce you to Alaska’s former governor, Toklo Kalluk,” Nathaniel said the moment he caught sight of her. Brook had spoken to Toklo through multiple video conferences, though Nathaniel had always been present. “Governor Kalluk, this is Brooklyn Sloane and Theo Neville.”

Toklo’s expression was cold, and his resentment of her involvement simmered just beneath the surface. She had noticed it during her calls, and it was difficult to miss now. It was clear that anyone associated with Jacob Walsh left a bad taste in his mouth.

She couldn’t blame him.

She had always carried the weight of her brother’s sins.

“Governor Kalluk,” Brook greeted evenly as she shook the man’s hand. She could only imagine the shock he and his family must have suffered upon hearing the news earlier in the year that Lusa Kalluk was dead. Jacob’s admission had all but cemented the young woman’s fate. “I can understand your frustration over delaying today’s events. I’m sure Mr. Carter has explained that we rescheduled the recovery operation for tomorrow.”

“Does it really surprise you the lengths your brother will go to cause?—”

“Mr. Kalluk,” Theo interrupted firmly as he extended his hand. He intentionally omitted the man’s former title to make his point clear. While Brook appreciated his effort to intervene and assert some authority, they still needed the man’s cooperation. “You're fortunate that Brook will be in attendance tomorrow to help locate your daughter’s remains. Brook’s insight into Jacob Walsh has brought the Bureau this far, and I have no doubt she will see the trial through to the end. It is unfortunate that the death penalty has been taken off the table.”

Eleven years had passed since Lusa Kalluk’s disappearance.

Brook was reminded that time could heal everything…except death.

The damage the Kalluk family carried with them in their day-to-day lives didn’t mean they had forgotten the initial pain of losing Lusa, but the scars left behind allowed them to move forward. Had their wounds been fresh, Theo wouldn’t have been compelled to come to her defense.

Theo's protectiveness came from the knowledge that Brook hadn’t been without suffering of her own. Still, the room itself seemed to hold its breath while waiting for Toklo’s response. Everyone’s attention was on the former governor.

“I realize that the concessions made for my daughter come at the expense of justice for others,” Toklo revealed somewhat grudgingly before dropping his hand. He nodded respectfully toward Theo, indicating that he understood the underlying meaning behind his words. “Lusa deserves a proper burial, though. If there are other victims, then their families deserve to know what happened to their loved ones, as well. With that said, I appreciate the reminder that there are many victims of Jacob Walsh’s crimes.”

The tension in the room seemed to ease as the occupants began to speak with one another in quiet conversations. Theo had mentioned that the former governor had brought what could be considered an entourage, and he hadn’t exaggerated that claim. A quick count revealed nine other individuals present.

“I’d like to reassure you that today’s distraction won’t divert our attention away from recovering your daughter’s remains.” Nathaniel smoothed his tie, just as he was attempting to do with Toklo’s slight irritation. Unfortunately, the federal prosecutor had managed to do just the opposite with Brook and Theo. “Tomorrow morning, we will?—”

“What Mr. Carter is trying to convey is that while we are certain Jacob Walsh did not personally take the life of Special Agent Kate Lin, we can’t rule out a connection with his case.” Brook spoke loud enough for all to hear her. “I’ve just received word that S&E Investigations will be working alongside the FBI as consultants. Once we retrieve the remains of your daughter, Special Agent Houser and my team will continue to investigate Lin’s murder alongside federal agents from the Anchorage field office. Due to the manner in which Special Agent Lin died, we would like to question those individuals who were close to Lusa before her disappearance.”

A few protests arose, but Brook held up a hand to signify she wasn’t done speaking. She even took a step back to view the occupants of the room. The position adjustment was more for her benefit than theirs, as it was beneficial to observe their reactions to her statements. As for Nathaniel, his face was flushed with annoyance, but she wasn’t there to gain political points. He could maneuver the bureaucratic chess pieces around the board another time.

“Special Agent Kate Lin was a cautious agent who never bent the rules,” Brook explained after she once again held everyone’s attention. “Someone was able to lure her here to Alaska, just as someone was able to entice Lusa to leave a local pub where she was enjoying a night out with family and friends. Jacob Walsh has claimed responsibility for Lusa’s disappearance. We will find out tomorrow if there is any truth to his assertion, but it is our responsibility to cover every aspect of this investigation. I ask for your cooperation.”

No one could mistake Brook’s last statement as singular in intention. She meant every single person in the room, but they all still directed their gazes toward Toklo Kalluk. He hesitated for a brief moment as he regarded her intently. His slight nod in her direction signified his acceptance and agreement to her request.

“While my daughter has been missing since 2014, that day will forever be carved into our memories, Ms. Sloane. This is my son, Aputi.” Toklo waited patiently for his son to step forward. Aputi was in his late thirties with a stocky build and short-cropped hair. He didn’t smile, but there didn’t seem to be any hostility in his gaze, either. “Aputi was with his sister that night at the bar.”

While Theo guided Aputi to the other side of the room, Brook noticed Sylvie. She had changed into a dark pair of jeans and a navy-blue sweater. The light sheen of lip gloss signaled that she had regained her composure and was ready to get to work. Given her uncanny ability to recall facts and details, Brook wasn’t concerned that anything would be missed during tonight’s interviews.

“My nephew, Nanuq.”

“Nanuq, I read over the interviews taken during the investigation of Lusa’s disappearance.” Brook noted that Nanuq didn’t view his uncle in the same way as the others. While there was a display of outward respect, the man’s body language suggested otherwise. “You were supposed to join Lusa and Aputi that night, is that right?”

Nanuq favored the Kalluk family in physical appearance, though he was slightly taller than his uncle and cousin. The differences ended there. The calluses on his hands and the clothes on his back indicated that he preferred the outdoors to a sterile office position.

“Yes. I worked maintenance at a wildlife conservation at the time. One of the fences partially came down, and I stayed to secure it.” Nanuq gestured over his shoulder. “Kavik, too.”

Kavik Aningan had been Lusa’s boyfriend at the time of her disappearance. He stood apart from the others. Given that the local authorities had treated him as a suspect back then, it wasn’t surprising that he had distanced himself from the Kalluk family members.

From there, Toklo continued to introduce the other family members.

Lusa’s mother, grandmother, and a few other cousins were in attendance. One of Lusa’s friends, who had been waitressing at the bar that night, was huddled next to Mrs. Kalluk. It was obvious that Delilah Swan continued to be close to the family.

“We appreciate you taking the time to speak with us tonight. My colleagues and Special Agent Houser will meet with each of you. In the meantime, beverages are on the counter. If you need anything else, please let me know.”

It was more than apparent that Russell didn’t appreciate being kept in the dark about S&E Investigations’ involvement with the inquiry into Kate’s death, but the federal agent maintained his composure and led Kavik to an empty table. Meanwhile, Nathaniel had pulled Toklo aside to reassure him that tomorrow would go as planned and that his daughter’s remains would finally be brought home to rest.

Brook pulled her phone from the back pocket of her jeans. Bit stayed back in the room to monitor the screens, promising to text her if Mitch stepped into the hallway for any reason. Fortunately, Graham had positioned a camera in the corridor to cover most of the rooms. Unfortunately, with everything that had happened this afternoon, she and Theo hadn’t retrieved Mitch’s water bottle from the plane.

“Miss Sloane?”

Brook kept hold of her phone while giving Toklo her undivided attention.

“I can only assume that after eleven years, my daughter… well, her bones would be all that remains of her.” Toklo cleared his throat before pulling a picture from the inside of his suit jacket. He stared at it for a moment before handing it to her. “The night Lusa vanished, she was wearing an ivory pendant. It has been passed down through my family for generations. You’ll know if the remains belong to my daughter if this pendant is found at the site.”

Brook refrained from explaining the possibility that Lusa could have been murdered elsewhere. The pendant might have fallen off her blouse or been taken by the unsub. Several scenarios could account for why the pendant might not be with Lusa’s remains.

“Thank you for the information, Governor Kalluk.” Brook glanced in Nathaniel’s direction. He was speaking to someone on the phone, most likely an individual within the Bureau, to confirm her claim that S&E Investigations had been brought onto the investigation as consultants. Russell wasn’t the only one irritated with the news. “May I ask you a question?”

Brook tucked the picture of Lusa wearing the ivory pendant into the back of her phone case. She then flipped her phone over to access the screen. It didn’t take her long to pull up Mitch Norona’s photograph.

“Do you, by chance, recognize this gentleman?”

Toklo took time to study Mitch’s image.

“No. What does he have to do with my daughter?”

Brook, Theo, and Sylvie all agreed that if they had the ability to speak with those who knew Lusa personally, they would ask whether they recognized Mitch Norona. Any solid connection could secure them a warrant for the man’s finances, movements, and property.

“Well, he is the defense attorney who is representing Jacob Walsh during this trial.” Brook pressed the side button on her phone. With a simple click, the photograph disappeared from the display. “Mr. Norona has joined us on this trip, and he will be accompanying those hiking out to the general location given to us by his defendant.”

“Thank you for sharing that information with me, Miss Sloane.”

“I do have one more question for you.” Brook’s gaze slid over to Kavik sitting with Russell. She had gone through Lusa’s file numerous times since the beginning of the year, and there was something in Toklo’s statement that bothered her. “Why didn’t you like your daughter dating Kavik Aningan back then? I assume something changed between then and now? After all, he has joined the family by being here today.”

“Why would you think?—”

“Mr. Kalluk, I’ve read through your statement multiple times. You weren’t surprised when the local police focused on Kavik. You never once came to his defense.” Brook paused, giving Toklo time to formulate a response. “I understand that you were very mindful of what you said to the police due to your position as governor. Those days have passed, and I’m asking for your honesty.”

“I didn’t believe Kavik was good enough for my daughter,” Toklo replied bluntly as he smoothed out the lapels on his suit jacket. He didn’t appear to have any reservations about his previous judgment. “Kavik was impulsive. He ran with a rough crowd, and he didn’t always think things through back then. I suppose that was why Lusa was attracted to him. She never rebelled in her teens, and by the time she was out of college and twenty-three…well, she wanted to test the waters. She didn’t understand that being in the public eye meant falling in line with public opinion. Every choice she made reflected on me, my position, and any future beyond being governor. In the days leading up to her disappearance, we fought constantly. It got so bad that I was very close to cutting Lusa off from making any public political appearances on my behalf.”

Toklo adjusted his stance so that his gaze could rest on his wife. His features softened, and he subconsciously tapped two fingers against his heart.

“I left the public eye after my first term. What good is serving the people if I can’t serve my own family? Give them love? Attention?” Toklo turned his focus toward Brook. “I made a mistake with my daughter. I’ve recently made such an admission to Kavik, which is why he joined us this evening.”

“Mr. Kalluk, there was nothing in Lusa’s case files that indicated the two of you had been at odds. What about your family? Friends? Were they aware of your disapproval?”

“Does it matter?” Toklo replied defensively. “My daughter is gone, and your brother claims responsibility.”

“It matters a great deal.”

Brook had several theories regarding Mitch Norona’s connection with her brother. The team had speculated that Mitch could have witnessed Jacob murder Lusa back in 2014. Jacob had been known to threaten loved ones to get others to do his bidding, and there was mounting evidence that he had done the same with Mitch Norona.The problem with that theory was that Lusa would have believed her life was perfect. Toklo was suggesting otherwise.

“Yes, the locals knew of my disappointment in Lusa back then. The investigator was a friend, and he made sure certain details were kept from the press. My family was going through enough heartache, and I didn’t want them to be hounded day in and day out by the national media.” Toklo thinned his lips in annoyance. “I don’t know why any of that matters now. Jacob Walsh has confessed to killing my daughter, and we are finally going to be able to bring her home.”

“Governor Kalluk, I know Jacob Walsh better than anyone else on this planet. I’ve dedicated my life to profiling serial killers, and it is very rare for any of them to amend their signatures. To change their preferences in victims? I’ve never encountered it in my career,” Brook revealed truthfully. “Jacob only targets women who believe their lives are perfect. Such belief eats at him, and he can’t allow them to continue breathing the same air as him. What you’ve just shared with me makes Lusa the complete opposite of what Jacob looks for in his victims.”

“But that would mean…”

“Jacob Walsh didn’t kill your daughter.”